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Heat index in Northeast tops 100; girl dies in hot car

New York – Tens of millions of people in the northeastern United States sweated in dangerously high heat Wednesday, with temperatures that felt like more than 100 degrees and prompted emergency measures includi

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Heat index in Northeast tops 100; girl dies in hot car

Verena Dobnik, Associated Press
Published 6:05 p.m. ET Aug. 29, 2018

Women use a paper parasol to shield themselves from the sun, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018, in New York. The National Weather Service says temperatures in the 90s combined with high humidity are pushing the heat index past 100.(Photo: Mary Altaffer / AP)

New York – Tens of millions of people in the northeastern United States sweated in dangerously high heat Wednesday, with temperatures that felt like 100-plus degrees and prompted emergency measures including school closures and extra breaks for star players wilting at the U.S. Open tennis tournament.

Authorities on Long Island say heat appeared to be a factor in Tuesday’s death of an 11-year-old girl found in a vehicle with the windows closed. The heat index was past 100.

In Massachusetts, nearly two dozen school districts canceled classes or sent children home early Wednesday in response to heat that reached 98 degrees, breaking the Aug. 29, 1953, record of 96. With the added high humidity, it felt like 107 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

“Our schools were simply not designed for the sustained heat and humidity we are experiencing since many do not have air conditioning or sufficient cooling systems,” said Mike Morris, superintendent of the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District, in a message to parents.

School districts in Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Virginia also had early dismissals Tuesday and Wednesday. Philadelphia already announced a Thursday early dismissal.

“Water, water, water – cold water in the face,” chimed in her sister, Pam Fitzgerald, of Stamford, Connecticut.

She also suggested sitting in the shade, “but everybody else is sitting in the shade so we haven’t had any luck there.”

Weather service meteorologist Bob Oravec said either heat advisories or excessive heat warnings have been issued across the region; the latter applies to temperatures that feel like over 105, while the advisories apply to lower figures.

In either case, he said, “the effects on the human body are the same: It’s tough to be outside.”